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Kawauchi Returns from European 'Yuki Showdown' vs. Sato: "I Win on Time and Racing"

http://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/etc/20160426-OHT1T50059.html

translated by Brett Larner

Civil servant runner Yuki Kawauchi (Saitama Pref. Gov't), age 29, returned to Tokyo's Narita Airport on April 26 after winning Sunday's Zurich Marathon in 2:12:04 in snowy conditions.  At the same time that Kawauchi was racing in Zurich, corporate league star Yuki Sato (Team Nissin Shokuhin) also age 29, ran the London Marathon, finishing 11th in 2:12:14.  Pre-race Kawauchi had said, "There's no way I'm going to lose to him," and having lived up to his words he was very pleased with the outcome of the 'Yuki Showdown.'  "I beat [Sato] on time, and with worse [weather] conditions in Zurich I win on racing too."

Having missed the Rio Olympic team, Kawauchi's major goal now is the 2017 London World Championships, what he considers now will be his last time going for a place on a national team.  Kawauchi is focusing on December's Fukuoka International Marathon selection race and setting up his schedule to be ready for it.  In May he will race both the Sendai International Half Marathon and Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon, and in July he will return to the Gold Coast Marathon where he hopes to run sub-2:10.

"I was in really good shape and felt great in Zurich, and it doesn't feel like there's any lingering damage," he said post-race.  "I want to break 2:10 once before the summer."

Sato photo © 2016 Dr. Helmut Winter, all rights reserved
Kawauchi photo © 2016 Brett Larner, all rights reserved

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TokyoRacer said…
He's quite a character.
April 26, 2016 at 9:47 PM
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